Sara Smith Voyten, a lifelong resident of Armstrong County, is about so as to add one other chapter to the story of her life: turning 100.
Voyten, an avid reader, spends the vast majority of her time along with her nostril in a e-book in her personal room at Pine View Private Care Facility in Parks Township.
“My eyes are nonetheless good. I solely want studying glasses,” she mentioned. “I prefer to get my books at storage gross sales.”
The novelist Danielle Metal is a favourite.
Voyten plans to have fun her a hundredth birthday Monday — which is Presidents Day — with an Italian-themed dinner amongst 23 relations at Garda’s Restaurant in Ford Metropolis.
On Friday, Voyten mirrored on her upcoming centenarian standing. Aside from some knee ache, she enjoys usually good well being. She takes quite a few nutritional vitamins and enjoys salads, pasta and slightly white wine.
“Nothing bothers me. I really feel good,” she mentioned. “I don’t really feel 100. It’s no huge deal.”
She credit Pond’s face cream for her good pores and skin. As for longevity, she has one secret: “Onerous work.”
The daughter of the late Eula and Merle Smith, Voyten grew up in Kittanning till the household relocated to the Leechburg space.
A Leechburg Space Excessive Faculty alumna, Voyten married her late husband Andrew, a mechanic and electrician, in 1941.
They settled within the coal-mining village of Kiskimere and raised 5 youngsters, 4 sons and a daughter.
“She is the oldest dwelling one in her household. It’s good to have your mom. She trusts me to make choices for her, and I’ve at all times tried to do the perfect for her,” mentioned son Gary Voyten.
Voyten mentioned her daughter’s demise in 1999 has been the hardest second in her life.
“She died the primary time she rode on that bike, and she or he was my solely daughter,” Voyten mentioned.
Voyten’s son Paul died a number of years in the past from most cancers. Her different three sons are Gary, Raymond and David.
“I’m most happy with my household. They give the impression of being after me,” mentioned Voyten, a homemaker her complete life who at all times maintained a neat-as-a-pin home.
Voyten mentioned she loved cooking and making soups for her household.
“She made golumpki, and it was tasty and filling,” Gary Voyten mentioned, referring to Polish cabbage rolls. “She additionally favored to prepare dinner Polish desserts and nut rolls.”
Voyten’s husband died in 2009 on the age of 90. Certainly one of their favourite joint actions was visiting casinos.
“I performed the slots. We beloved to go to Atlantic Metropolis,” Voyten mentioned.
A number of years in the past, after docs really useful 24-7 care, she relocated from her 100-acre farm in Gilpin to Pine View.
“Any time you stand up into that age, it’s a blessing. She’s nonetheless capable of stroll and get round,” Gary Voyten mentioned.
Pine View worker Patrice Coker, certainly one of her caregivers, has identified Voyten for a few decade.
“I’m not stunned she’s turning 100. She’s at all times studying and has good well being. She used to like going to the storage gross sales. Sara likes a discount,” Coker mentioned.
Pine View proprietor Tommy Scanga mentioned along with her birthday plans along with her household, Voyten will select a birthday meal of her selection and revel in a birthday cake this week at Pine View.
Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Overview employees author. You may contact Joyce at 724-226-7725 , jhanz@triblive.com or by way of Twitter .
